SYCODE Releases Six Neutral CAD File Format Data Exchange Plug-ins for AutoCAD

AutoCAD can already read and write ACIS SAT files,” explains Deelip Menezes, Founder and CEO of SYCODE. However, this ability is restricted to ACIS version 7.0 only. This can pose a huge data exchange problem for AutoCAD users, especially since ACIS has reached version 20 and most CAD systems read and write SAT files later than version 7.0. The SAT import and export plug-ins that we are releasing today will eliminate this problem since they use authentic libraries from Spatial, the developers of ACIS, and hence will always be compatible with the latest version of ACIS.

SYCODE already offers plug-ins to import IGES and STEP files. However, these are mostly effective to import 2D data. 3D data is imported as wireframe curves, not solids. The IGES and STEP import plug-ins have been completely rewritten and can now import 3D data stored in IGES and STEP files as 3D solid objects in AutoCAD. This is a significant improvement as it greatly increases the ability of AutoCAD to exchange 3D data with other CAD systems. The IGES and STEP export plug-in are new products. When used along with the import plug-ins, they give AutoCAD the ability to do a complete round trip of 2D and 3D data. As an Autodesk partner, SYCODE is committed to offering AutoCAD users robust data exchange solutions that go to solve the data exchange problems that they face in a multi-CAD environment.

All six plug-ins are powered by the widely used 3D InterOp technology from Spatial. 3D InterOp is the industry standard for proprietary and neutral CAD file format data exchange and is used in almost all the major CAD systems. Besides data exchange 3D InterOp also offers powerful repairing and healing features which are extensively used in these plug-ins. Repairing involves checking the file for corrupted data and fixing invalid data. Healing corrects the differences in precision. The plug-ins also create detailed log files which are extremely useful in identifying data translation problems and aid in locating and fixing errors.

The plug-ins work with AutoCAD 2000 through to AutoCAD 2010, 32 Bit as well as 64 Bit and is available as a fully functional trial. They come with installers and detailed documentation in the form of compiled HTML help files which contains step-by-step tutorials to get end users started in the shortest possible time.